Compressor Gas Supply Water Removal via Waste Heat Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas supply systems that use air compressors face challenges with water condensation and removal, as the ability of compressed air to hold water vapor decreases, leading to liquid water accumulation, which requires manual disposal and is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A gas supply system with a water removal device that aerosolizes liquid waste water using a piezo actuator and perforated plate, exposing the aerosolized water to waste heat from the compressor in a cooling duct to promote evaporation, or using an evaporation pad to facilitate evaporation within the cooling duct.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If air is compressed, then pressurized air is supplied for use, but the ability of air to hold water vapor decreases causing liquid water condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the waste heat generated by the compressor to evaporate the condensed liquid water, converting a harmful byproduct (waste heat) into a useful function (water evaporation). This resolves the contradiction by eliminating liquid water accumulation through thermal energy that would otherwise be discarded.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own internally generated waste heat to solve the water condensation problem, making the system self-sufficient. The compressor's waste heat serves the dual purpose of cooling and water evaporation, eliminating the need for external heating sources or manual water removal.
2Reliability
If liquid water is collected and removed manually, then water accumulation is prevented, but system maintenance effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically evaporates condensed water using waste heat, eliminating the need for manual water removal. The evaporation process occurs continuously as waste heat passes through the cooling duct, maintaining system reliability without requiring user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the phase transition of water from liquid to vapor using waste heat energy. By directing waste heat through the cooling duct where condensed water is present, the system continuously evaporates liquid water, preventing accumulation and eliminating manual removal requirements.
3Productivity
If waste heat is utilized for water evaporation, then operational efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water evaporation function with the existing cooling duct structure. Rather than adding a separate evaporation system, the waste heat utilization is integrated into the cooling pathway, allowing thermal energy to serve both cooling and water removal functions through the same structural component.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling duct serves multiple functions: it cools the compressor and simultaneously provides the thermal pathway for evaporating condensed water. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for dedicated water removal components, maintaining structural simplicity while improving operational efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution eliminates the need for manual disposal of waste water by promoting its evaporation, reducing system maintenance and improving operational efficiency by utilizing waste heat for water removal.
Implementation Method 1
the piezo actuator is configured to convert electrical energy into a mechanical displacement according to the piezoelectric effect
Implementation Method 2
exposes the aerosolized waste water to the waste heat from the compressor in the cooling duct to promote evaporation of the aerosolized waste water using the waste heat from the compressor
Implementation Method 3
promote evaporation of the aerosolized waste water using the waste heat from the compressor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A gas supply system utilizes waste heat from a compressor to promote evaporation of liquid waste water that is generated as condensate by the compressor.